Work begins on converting Triabunna mill into tourism venture

Mr Wood's development includes accommodation, an art gallery and a culinary school.

ABC

Work has begun on converting the former Gunns Triabunna woodchip mill into a tourism venture.

The mill was sold three years ago to millionaire environmentalists Graeme Wood and Jan Cameron, who plan to turn it into a tourism development.

Detailed plans of the development have been released and include gardens, an art gallery, a culinary school and accommodation.

Wotif founder Graeme Wood has told ABC Local Radio construction of the accommodation is set to start next year.

"The plan I have in front of me says that real construction starts in the second quarter of next year and we're not talking about 10-storey buildings, we're talking about log cabin-type accommodation among the trees" he said.

"So it's not a huge engineering project from that point of view."

Mr Wood predicts it will be a major tourist drawcard.

"In five years' time we should have several hundred thousand people a year going through the place, that's the kind of numbers and they'll be engaged in a whole lot of tourism, cultural, educational, culinary schools."